a little layout info please?

[smokum21]

We are familiar with the basic processes and are taking them into account. We are burying a 40 ft ocean shipping container, and are curious how some of you would use the space for most productive. We like 1k merc halide lights. We figure about 10 ft for veg. state space. Would you go with pots? hydro? multi levels maybe? Or maybe some of you have had this type of experience already?

[Prodaytrader]

Sounds like your coming right along with your oven. Where did you intend to put this giant shipping container of yours anyway? Outside, somewhere exposed to the sun? How hot you think it might get inside one of those containers? Way over 130 I can assure you of that especially in the summer time. With that in mind you will want to be thinking about cooling and venting this sucker real well. It's gonna be hot and stagnant in there. That's my first impression. Past that this your choice of containers does not necessarily lead one down a certain path of how to grow. Take your pick, consider other variables like access to water, distance away from you (as in how much of a pain in the ass is it going to be to be there each day and care for them or do you want to not be there but every couple days). Those variables decide what style to pick. You have only complicated the issue and bought a very very large tent that in all likelihood isn't going to be all that useful to you. You will need to supply your container with everything you can think of to properly control the space. This might be your intention all along though but it wont be cheap.

[smokum21]

As my post said, we are burying the thing. Five feet dirt on top. We are aware of heat problems etc. If we used the first 10 feet for veg/etc, what is the most productive way to layout the other 30 feet? We see we can either put 10 or 12 monsters on the floor and let them go wild, or if we layout out standard 12" per unit lower the lights etc etc for smaller plant quicker production, could we grow a shelf 4 ft up the wall and double production? Yield is our goal. I guess we wonder if we should maximize the 8 foot height.

[GROWxMOREx420]

Your plan is ideal for a backyard stealth grow, however I am curious as to how you plan on entering and exiting the burried container with the proper equipment you will need along the way such as water, supplies, ext.

You have a lot of work on your hands.

[cigarettes42]

this sounds like you need our help for your commercial grow. get some experience.

[harrybuzz]

you should copy a successful grow set up, it will evolve with your experience.each grow room is different as per the circumstances.

[Prodaytrader]

The layout depends on the lights and the technique I would think. If your growing these in pots sitting on the floor then I would just space them evenly apart and fill the room. If you want to use like an ebb and flow style system then two tables along the wall allowing just enough space to walk down the middle is what you need. The lights work the same way. HPS lights are large and effective but you will need several to fill that space. Maybe 5 or 6 I dont know. That will get hot especially in that space.

If you haven't figured out by now your going to need a portable ac unit which will still require ventilation I would think. Same for the lights if you use HPS lights. However floros have come a long way and for somebody that might be concerned with heat, I would seriously look into using those. The cheapest way I can think to use them would be vertically and in that case then the layout should be scattered evenly on the surface, either table or floor. You might not know how to do vertical or you might not like the idea, but maybe you do like the idea of low heat and cheap wattage so again floros are the way to go. Horizontally used floros are most efficient in 4' lengths but they dont work so well outside the footprint of the fixture itself. So if that's the way you go then scattering the plants wont work. You will need to think length wise and line the plants up in a row again either on the floor or on a table depending on how you want to grow them.

Soil or hydro (what style hydro), floros or hps, cooling, ventilation, humidity, access, heat, water, processing and drying space if this is a commercial operation, just some issues to be thinking of.

Best way to go about this is to look for grow logs that best mimic what you know about growing marijuana and how much time and money you intend to invest into this project, given the space you have. Once you know those things, then the layout is merely your interpretation on the best use of those resources. Different styles, different equipment, different variables all go into dictating the layout. I have a double stacked flood table grow log that would be of no use to you given your intentions and space.

Take lots and lots of pictures. I have a feeling this will cost you lots of money, but in the end aught to be pretty kick ass if you do it correctly. Lot's of us dream of having a secret basement or space such as this...we just dont envy the work ahead of you.

[smokum21]

Hey Pro, there we go, thank you! Thats kinda the wisdoms we are looking for. Cigareetes said sounds like we need your help. Um, yeah, help is a nice thing. We have experience in basement grow, just never attempted something like this. We are aware of the pain to get going. We're not beginners, but we're not pros yet either. Yet. Our experience, which we will stick(ish) to is floor space, 1ft per unit, soil, 1000HPS hanging, but will also fluro the walls, veg rotates to flower space, 2 rooms. We are installing a portable AC unit for temp control. Plumbing and electric will be done before we close the casket. Enter and entrance is already being considered, we want a quick way out on the other end if necessary also! Another real concern is start stock. I know a guy in cali, 25 per start, but am kinda concerned with getting them here through the desert trip, and what stock it is. Claims he can get any we want. Seeds we realize will take longer, and have to be sexed, unless we grab fem. Can we take cuts from fem after they start like any other mother? And furthermore, heres a neat question . . . in our previous grows, we produce good thick yums. Since this whole medical thing has come along, I wouldnt dare say our stuff matched that stuff. And of course that stuff is what we're looking for. Is it really a matter of start/care, or are these guys doing things to produce this that the normal guy just aint gonna be able? Thank you all much, at the least, karma will reward people that help people . . .

[Prodaytrader]

genetics play a huge role in how much resin you get. For this operation you will need to source some good genetics and right now it doesn't sound like you have that taken care off. Be carefully with people you dont know, for many reasons. You are buying a lot of clones which could make your life miserable depending on where your at and what kind of clones they are. The strain you choose will also decide how profitable you are. This is something you will need to learn for yourself. Lot's to consider here, how fast can the plants grow, how much bud is present, how potent is that bud, whats the market in the area like. There is a difference between cash crops and medical crops. Way different prices, way different grow times, way different bud density and potency. All things to consider. At 25 bucks a pop you may rather just delay the start up and grow a few mother's first then take clones from there. If your not thinking of doing this after the first propagation, then your crazy. Cloning is the first way to ensure profitability. Bottom line, dont buy your stock from another supplier after you get up and running.

Also, be careful not to takes clones from flowering plants if you can avoid it. I just finished up making this mistake and although it can be done, it's not exactly healthy for the clones. What I discovered is that there are still hormones present in those pistols even after you take the clone. When the clone finally roots and begins growing it will be growing in a flowering state. What will happen is that the vegetation will come out all wacky and shit and will delay the clones growth not to mention the potential to stress the plant.

One more piece of advice; learn the mathematics for why people use certain pieces of equipment over others. For example ventilation. There are formulas on how to properly calculate your floor space and what size fans you need based on that math. You will find that if you do the math correctly the first time, then when you do make your investment into fans, or lights or whatever, it wont be wasted or underestimated. Also, understanding the equations for things like wattage are very important for commercial growers too. It's a change in thinking required, not a change in location. You need to learn to be a tight ass with things like nutrients, water and electricity or otherwise your grow wont be profitable.

[bigtopsfinn]

First thing you should do is source the genetics. If you don't have access to top-quality clones, buy regular seeds, veg them, clone them, grow out the clones (cloning them again for possible mothers) and pick a couple keepers. Shouldn't take more than 6 months to have keeper mothers that'll give you all the clones you can handle.

Then look into vertical lighting - hanging 1000w bulbs so that you don't need reflectors and use all 360 degrees of the lights.

(Check your reputation under User CP) ;)